Scars

I was listening to the Mumford and Sons song (yes, they've sparked another blog post) "Not With Haste" when I heard the line "We will be who we are, and they'll heal our scars, sadness will be far away."

I've always thought of scars as having been healed, albeit imperfectly.  But they're not, some scars still hurt, and even the ones that don't leave a visual reminder of the events and the pain that caused them.  Looking at my hands now I have scars from playing touch football in a parking lot (I missed), playing soccer (missed again), crashing my bicycle, accidentally cutting myself with a pocket knife, a surprise attack from my brother etc.  I think we can lay to rest the mystery of why I don't get into sports.

I hate to wax cheesy (unless it's punny), but we carry emotional scars as well.  It has struck me lately how many things in my life or past have been stained by sin.  I'm not even talking about things that are blatantly sinful, but innocuous things that remind me of sin in my past.  I carry these memories, these scars, and no matter how close my walk with God is now, or how much closer it will be, I can't erase or forget my sinful past.

But my Jesus can.  He has already forgiven me my sins.  I've been catching up on some of Jon Acuff's blog, and he said in one post that God doesn't do "better".  He doesn't improve us.  God's business is "new", he makes us a new creation, and He will give us a new song to sing.

One day, when this sinful world goes away, I won't have to carry my scars anymore.  I'll be a new creation, and as the song goes on, "We will run and scream, you will dance with me, fulfill our dreams and we'll be free."

Photo by Kevin O'Mara

Love

My favorite band these days is Mumford & Sons - don't worry, you don't need to be a fan to read this post. I've been listening to their new album a lot, but one of my favorite lines comes from their previous album.

     In the song After the Storm it says "There will come a time you'll see, with no more tears; and love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears."

     I didn't think much of it the first time I heard that; I rarely ever listen to lyrics anyway.  But the more I thought about that line, the more it rang true.  Because love really does break our hearts.  Every crush you've had, every failed romance, every falling out with a loved one, they all hurt because of our love.  But more than that.  As Christians, we love many who are lost, who have not accepted Jesus' sacrifice, and we know what awaits them if that doesn't change.  And it breaks our hearts.  That wasn't how love was meant to be, it's not how our creator made it.  Even love was tarnished by sin.
     But one day, my savior will redeem us.  He will make us whole and holy, and Love will be restored again to its pure and righteous form.

There will come a time, you'll see, with no more tears; and love will not break your heart, but dismiss your fears.